The Trump administration is revoking the terrorism designation of a group led by Syria's new president as part of a broader US engagement with the transitional government since the ouster of former leader Bashar Assad late last year. In a statement released Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move, which will take effect Tuesday, 'recognises the positive actions taken by the new Syrian government" under President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Earlier Monday, the Federal Register published an advance notice, which said Rubio made the decision on June 23 in consultation with the attorney general and treasury secretary. The decision had not been previously announced, although it was made as the Trump administration has been moving to ease or end many US sanctions that had been imposed during Assad's rule.

The step looks to further end Syria's isolation since a lightning rebel offensive ousted the Assad family from decades of rule and give the new government a boost as it tries to rebuild a country shattered by 13 years of civil war. President Donald Trump, before having dinner Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, repeated that he previously had been told that Syria's new leader 'comes from a very tough background.'